In 2018. by way of thanks for being a part of this community, we'll be choosing 16 active members of our community at random to receive a special gift and a gift certificate for one of our affiliate vendors, to represent each of our 16 years.

On my visit to Bench Work Studies during their 'open house', I also met shoemaker Hidenori Akasaka. A former student of Yukiko Bassett Okawa, Akasaka currently runs his own workshop, Anonymous Shoes, not far from her studio. Though he never studied in the UK, his technical and stylistic foundation is decidedly English, and there may possibly be a bit of Lobb's DNA in him (passed to him by his teacher Yukiko Okawa). A pair of full bespoke shoes is offered for a generous price of ¥160,000 ($1600+ USD).

Akasaka san stitching the sole.

Anonymous bespoke samples on display.

Elastic sides shoes in burgundy

Workmanship is solid and crisp throughout. Thick leather shanks are used inside.

How willing are them taking repair/resolve orders or other handmade shoes from, say, Vass, SC, or various bespoke makers?

It might be economically viable to ship shoes to Japan for a new heel/sole sewn by hand, foe closed welt or blind welt.

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Quite a few shoemakers in Tokyo alone do exactly that. Shoe repair gives them steadier income vs order taking, especially if they're not well known, and yes, I've seen other shoemakers offer full hand bottom replacement for RTW shoes. The workshop mentioned above (Benchmade, Anonymous) do offer quick fitting alterations for your RTW shoes (stretching, insoles). Shoefitters

Talking about high-end shoe repair, there is a new face in town. The fellow's name is Yamato-san, and he came back from Florence having apprenticed under Ugolini for a quite some time. He's doing shoe repairs full time (not shoe making), and I've heard good things about him from Mr. Qnai (also an Ugolini alumnus). You can find Yamato san working from the 2nd floor workshop @ World Footwear Gallery Ginza.

[COLOR=555555]Drake’s × St Crispin’s × Koji Suzuki[/COLOR] article from The Rake online [COLOR=555555]The Drake’s store in London is offering the first of a unique collaboration this Friday and Saturday:[/COLOR] [COLOR=555555]shoes made by Austrian company St Crispin’s and designed by legendary Japanese shoemaker Koji Suzuki.[/COLOR] [COLOR=A74345][/COLOR]

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interesting those last look so much nicer than SC's normal ones, along with koji's refined designs, wonder if they are still using toothpicks for the waist

If think you are a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around!